The rest of Thanksgiving Weekend - November 28-30, 2008

Friday 11/28/2008 - Happy Birthday Grandma! I had to work, so I drove down to Salt Lake by myself early. Just before lunch, Kathleen and James came down on the Front Runner - The double-decker commuter train that runs between Ogden and Salt Lake. We are grateful that we can work similar hours (even if we have to wake up at 4:15 in the morning) and commute together to Salt Lake everyday. We are SO SO SO grateful that gas prices have come back down to make it worthwhile to commute until we can move. We are grateful to have vehicles to drive and for my grandparents letting us stay with them! We are grateful to have jobs!

I took James and Kathleen on a mini-tour of Life Flight. I am grateful to be back with Life Flight. It is nice to work with people I already know and enjoy. It is wonderful to be wanted and told that I'm doing a good job. It is wonderful to have a position (billing) that makes a difference (maybe the patients don't appreciate getting a bill, but the flight crews and everyone else appreciate getting paychecks!). James is looking forward to participating in hoist training and is grateful for an 'in' to talking to the pilots and hear their stories about how they made it through flight training.

James and Kathleen in front of one of the Life Flight helicopters.

Jessi and James in front of the brand-new Life Flight airplane.

We spent the rest of Friday doing window shopping for ski boots and a ski backpack for Kathleen. We had dinner at Cafe Rio and wandered Temple Square to see the lights. It was extremely crowded on the first night that they were lit - but beautiful and we enjoyed the nativities and going into the visitors center and tabernacle to get warm. We are grateful for the gospel and for eternal families. I love how the lights on temple square are a very visible reminder to bring the "light of Christ" to beautify our lives.

A tree on Temple Square

The Salt Lake Temple

The Nativity

The Salt Lake Temple from the end of the main street plaza. Do you see the tall man in the center of the crowd at the base of the temple? His reflection is alone in the pond? That is my James!

Saturday 11/29/2008 - we went to Brighton to ski with Uncle Doug & Michael and some Walker cousins. James is grateful to have Michael follow him everywhere and ask to ski harder stuff and jump off everything and want to hike. Uncle Doug is grateful James will ski with Michael and hike and ski harder stuff. Michael is grateful to have James watch him 'grind' the rails and jump off rocks and ski harder stuff. Kathleen is grateful that renting boots only cost $14 and that she & James got patrol passes for the day and that she was able to ski a day with James this season. I was grateful to spend the day in the lodge with a good book and be in out of the freezing rain that frosted over everyones goggles and made ski jackets and pants stiff with frozen precipitation - my ski pants were so old and falling apart that I finally threw them away and haven't replaced them yet. So next time I will be grateful for new ski pants and a ski day!

Sunday 11/30/2008 - we went to church with Grandma and Granddad.

Brett and his fiance, Tammy

Brett and Tammy came over to visit and I took some pictures for the two of them. We wandered around Grandma and Granddad's yard, and then over to the elementary school. I think some turned out very well - and don't they look happy!



We finally had to take Kathleen to meet her shuttle back to Rexburg - good luck with finals & come visit again!



Then back to Salt Lake for a 'last day of the month' shift at Life Flight. James came along for company on the drive and to finish up his on-line class. He took Aircraft Identification and had to sketch 28 different aircraft. He's grateful to get those done and in the mail to his instructor and I'm grateful that he's able to work full time and still take some classes. We're grateful that he'll be eligible for in-state tuition next fall.



It has been a wonderful holiday weekend. It is nice to focus on Thanksgiving and realize just how much we have to be grateful for - most of all for a temple marriage and for our extended families and their support. Thank you!

Thanksgiving - November 27, 2008

On Thanksgiving morning we drove through the rain to Salt Lake for James to play football with friends from his old singles ward. Kathleen and I watched, but mostly we enjoyed playing with Toby - a 7-month-old beagle that another football player brought along. Toby barked at every dog that came within sight and even growled at a baby stroller until it was close enough for him to recognize that it contained people. He almost pulled Kathleen's arm out while trying to escape onto the field. James is in a black long-sleeve t-shirt and black shorts and black socks pulled up to just below the knee.

Kick-Off

James going up for the ball.

James on the ground - not sure if he turned an ankle or just had a close miss on an interception.

Joel in his Halloween costume - isn't it great!

James - alone in the backfield - look at those clouds! We're all grateful that the rain stopped long enough for the game!


Kathleen and Toby.

We enjoyed Thanksgiving Dinner at Grandma and Granddads with Sal & Karen, Derek & Janalee, Devin, Jason and Natalie. Also with Glen & Nancy, Alan & Michelle, Chad, Brett and Craig. Also Roger & Lynnette, Justin and Colton. Later JB & Erin, Braeden, Kyan and Jett came over. VERY busy, VERY fun, VERY good food. James is grateful for turkey sandwiches w/cranberry sauce. I am grateful we have such a cozy place to stay while intransit to Salt Lake City. Kathleen is grateful for a quiet place to finish reading Twilight.

James Goes to Alta - FIRST TURNS! - November 26, 2008

As this is the week of Thanksgiving, I'll start by saying how grateful we are for James' new job. In Boise, James was working temporary labor jobs to help us meet expenses - for very low wages. James is a hard worker and very thorough and likes to do a job right-the first time he does the job. So he was often requested to come back to the same job site time after time. For the last couple months James was working at a remodel of a Fred Meyer - even as the job finished up and the remodel company didn't need any temporary labor, they still asked James to work for them until the end. We are grateful that he had work to keep us going, but we are even more grateful for a full-time job with benefits and better pay and perks like "discounts on outdoor gear".

James in the Fred Meyer parking lot.

James in the backcountry.com parking lot.

James got some suprize days off around Thanksgiving from Backcountry.com. He got Wednesday and Friday off because sales are slow and they had to cut a few hours. So we counted that extra time off as a blessing and James got in his first day on the slopes. James is grateful to have the time off to spend with his sister, Kathleen, who came down from BYU-Idaho for the weekend and grateful to get in his first turns this season!

One of the benefits of working for backcountry.com is their "Gold Points" system. If you have a 'gold point' from your manager, you can check out one of the Ski Utah Gold Passes - a pass that is good at any Utah ski resort. If you don't have any gold points, you can still check out a pass at 8 a.m. - if they're not already reserved for that day. James checked out a Gold Pass at 8 a.m. today and headed for Alta - extremely early season skiing, but he never complains about a free ski day - especially when we didn't have to buy the pass! Another blessing!





The snow report from James: "The snow was like frozen spring conditions. There was some chalky snow in non-sunny aspects that was pretty good. Some spots were thin crust and skiiable. Other spots were "Stay Away" Death Crust. I did jump some small pine trees over in the Alta Ballroom where the snow was chalky and pretty nice. By the fifth round, I was even landing more centered instead of in the backseat. The coverage was better than expected, but we still need lots of snow. Do a snow dance everyone!"

After I got off work and James came down from the slopes, we met the Rexburg - SLC shuttle and picked up Kathleen and headed back down to SLC for the Utah Jazz basketball game.

James' 30th birthday is on December 4th, so I got him Jazz basketball tickets for his early birthday present. Three tickets to the Utah Jazz vs. Memphis Grizzlies tonight - The Jazz won!

Happy Early Birthday James!

And two tickets to the Jazz vs. the Boston Celtics - in February.

Happy Belated Birthday James!

Life in fastforward! - September 30-November 3, 2008

This has been a super crazy month. My mom had emergency abdominal surgery on Tuesday September 30th. She's very tough and recovering so well! She only spent 5-days in the hospital - she says it was family prayers & priesthood blessings that helped her heal so quickly.


That same day, James had a really good interview with Inland Surf in Boise, ID and was contemplating a full-time job with them. It was for 'ski swapping' - pretty much every weekend in Oct/Nov/Dec driving to ski swaps around the northwest and selling skis. And then going turning into a position at their retail shop in Boise.


That same day, I got a phone call from my former supervisor at Life Flight in Salt Lake City, UT. Robyn said they had an opening and would I PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE consider applying.



After days of pro's and con's and prayers and back-and-forth, James and I decided we would move to Utah! James turned down the position with Inland Surf and applied with Backcountry.com in SLC. They sent an email with an invitation for open interviews on Wednesday afternoons. We went to Utah for Conference Weekend (thank you Grandma and Granddad for letting us stay with you!) and some refresher training with Life Flight, but we had to leave SLC on Monday afternoon to get back to our Boise jobs for Tuesday.



While in SLC on Monday, James did some job searching and resume placing and managed to get an early interview with Backcountry.com. And he got the job! He starts on November 3rd, the same day I orient with Intermountain Healthcare. Actually, James got his job offer one week before I got my official job offer, so he landed his job first! He'll be doing inventory in their warehouse with potential for much overtime through the retail holidays, but the part he likes (besides employee deals and working with skis and outdoor equipment and the potential for cheap lift tickets) is that after awhile he could change positions and maybe work in customer service as a 'ski expert' or another position. He is interested in learning everything he can and getting experience in different positions.


My last day of work at The Center for Wound Healing and Hyperbaric Medicine - Halloween! I'll be training one of our new hires for the last week. I also get to help w/ interviews. James will be thrilled to be done working for Labor Ready - a temporary labor agency. He's had a wide variety of jobs and all his 'employers' have been complimentary about his work ethic. His last job (for the last few months) has been helping to remodel a Fred Meyer. As things are getting completed, James is the only Labor Ready guy they've asked to come back. Thank you James for working so hard at low pay and early hours to help us make ends meet. Thank you for job searching and taking school classes and working toward your career goals and our family goals. Thank you for supporting me in my various activities and for coming along when I want to spend time with my family - you're so adorable when you're rough-housing with the nieces & nephews!



We're very very blessed to have generous grandparents. G&G are letting us stay with them in Ogden for a month or two - since we haven't had time to even think about apartment hunting in Salt Lake! We're so thrilled to spend a little time with them, even if the commute from Ogden to SLC is 40 miles each way. Big incentive to keep the apartment hunt on the front burner!

To Do list:

The next two weeks:

pack everything

clean everything and leave the house in good condition - THANK YOU Mom & Dad

for the generous use of the house!

October 19 - teach my last lesson to the Beehives - "Loving Yourself"

October 23 - Family Pictures - 12 adults and 14 children (ages 11 - 1 month)

October 24 - drive a load of 'stuff' to Utah - Thank you Dad for the use of Big Blue.

October 25 - paperwork and drug test prior to new job. See Warren Miller's "Children of Winter" at Peery's Egyptian Theatre in Ogden. CORDOVA, AK is the first section of the movie!

October 26 - drive back to Eagle for our last week in Idaho.

October 28 - dessert party w/the ward - thank you Mark & Jenny Miller

October 29 - YM/YW Halloween Dance

October 31 - Halloween - last day of work in Boise.

November 1st - Treasure Valley Derby Girls - Go Cell Block B!

November 2nd - Move to Utah. Thank you G&G for a place to stay while apartment hunting.

November 3rd - James & Jessi have orientation with our new jobs.

James' To Do List:

finish winterizing the house.

finish winterizing the lawn and garage

keep up with on-line class w/UVU - Aircraft Identification

pack everything

fix anything that can be fixed

work for Labor Ready

take the pop cans to the recycling center

get The Outlaw's belts changed and some much needed maintenance

Last Sunday Dinner in Eagle - November 2, 2008

Mom Kurt Bree & James

We went to church, turned in our books for our callings, finished packing our cars and drove to Mom & Dad's for Sunday dinner. It was fun to spend a last hour or two with my parents, Kurt (his family was in Idaho Falls), and Kim & Deven, McKayla, Carter, Bree & Ellie.

McKayla, Jessi & Carter - self portrait

Uncle James helps Bree say good-bye to Drifter.

All my nieces and nephews were very good fish-sitters (thanks to their parents too!). In fact, everytime any of the kids came to our house, they'd ask to feed Drifter. Happy fish.

The Treasure Valley Roller Girls - November 1, 2008

All Female, Flat-Track, Full Contact Derby - B-Town Battalion vs. Cell Block B

My best friend at the Center for Wound Healing, RaeAnna, is a Roller Derby Girl! I'm so impressed with the time and effort and practice and rehab she puts into skating. They donate part of the proceeds from each bout to local charities.

RaeZer # 316

I'm an unofficial team seamstress - the team decided to change their uniforms and I ended up sewing four uniforms - for RaeZer, La Furia!, Olga von Bonecrusher, and Coffin Kitty. I think they turned out pretty well - especially for being homemade by a non-professional seamstress!

Jessi, RaeZer and La Furia!

RaeZer, Jessi and Olga von Bon Crusher

James & I finally went to a bout on the 1st of November - and Cell Block B won! What a riot - there was half-time entertainment and a whole group from the Center for Wound Healing went to cheer RaeZer on - it was fun, but sad, because I had to resign as team seamstress and say goodbye to my friend before moving the next day.

RaeZer (the Pivot) at the front of the pack.

Mr. RaeZer (Chris) cheering on his wife!

James, Jessi, Rae & Chris

Jessi and James at the Roller Derby Bout.

YES, THERE ARE RULES!

• The Bout consists of three 20 minute periods.


• The pack consists of four skaters from each team.


• The skater in the front of the pack with the striped helmet cover is called the pivot (RaeZer's position). The Pivot controls the pace of the pack.


• The other three skaters behind the Pivot are called Blockers. The Blockers job is to keep the opposing team from scoring and to assist their own team in scoring.


• The final skater from each team - lined up behind the pack - are called Jammers. The Jammer is the only person on the team who can score points.


• SCORING: In order to score, the Jammer must first break through the pack (without going outside the track lines). After their first pass through the pack, each opposing skater that the Jammer passes legally (inbounds, without committing penalties) is one point.


• PENALTIES: Players accumulate minor penalties for things like illegal blocking, false starts and unsportslady-like conduct. Major penalties are given for larger offenses like fighting. Every major penalty results in one minute in the penalty box (called the Sin-Bin) to be served by the skater. Once a player has accumulated four minor penalties it equals one major penalty and they must serve their one minute in the penalty box.


• There are almost as many referrees as there are skaters on the track. One for each Jammer and another three to watch the pack.


• http://www.treasurevalleyrollergirls.net/

Jessi 'tagged' - October 29, 2008

Rules: 3 joys, 3 fears, 3 goals, 3 current obsessions/collections, and 3 facts about yourself. tag 5 people @ the end of post by leaving names.

JOYS

1. road trips and entire days spent with my James
2. playing with my nieces and nephews - I LOVE it when they come running to the door, hollering my name, and running into my arms for a big hug. I LOVE it when they argue over who gets to sit next to their Aunt Jessi.
3. my mom's great attitude and prognosis for future good health.

FEARS

1. breaking my leg / getting hit in the shins by a line drive softball / not being able to ski...
2. being silly / ungrateful / insensitive / reckless / frivilous ... I SHOULD be more fearful of being tardy too!
3. letting familiarity and comfort replace passion and romance

GOALS

1. future family
2. realizing James' school and career goals
3. zero credit card debt

CURRENT OBSESSIONS / COLLECTIONS

1. crochet snowflakes and stuffed animals - my last project was making baby "Ellie-phants" stuffed elephants for Ellie, Bree, Carter & McKayla
2. I have almost finished my 50-State-Quarters collection - should be able to finish up this year!
3. packing up our stuff and 'packing out' our junk

FACTS ABOUT MYSELF

1. I am a butterfly for Halloween this year.
2. I'm definitely not a morning person.
3. I show James I love him by getting up with him in the early morning to be sure he gets breakfast. That's true love.

Tag! You're it! - McKayla D., Rachelle T., Kim W., Sarah H., Cami W.